If you hit a deer with your car in Pennsylvania, stop in a safe place, turn on your hazard lights, and check yourself and your passengers for injuries before doing anything else. Then call 911 if anyone is hurt or the car can’t be driven, photograph the scene, and notify your insurer. Pennsylvania drivers face some of the highest animal-collision odds in the country, and a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer at Rose Harper Law can step in when a deer crash causes injuries or the insurance company pushes back. Our offices in Allentown and Parsippany serve clients across the Lehigh Valley, Easton, and beyond.
Deer season in the Lehigh Valley is no joke. Fall breeding season, shorter days, and wet leaves put more deer on the road from October through December, especially around dusk and dawn.
Key Takeaways:
- After hitting a deer, pull over safely, turn on hazards, and check for injuries before doing anything else.
- Keep your distance from the animal, a wounded deer can kick or thrash and cause a second injury.
- Comprehensive coverage (not collision) usually applies here, and it’s treated as a not-at-fault claim, so it shouldn’t raise your premium.
- PA doesn’t require a police report if there’s no injury and the car is drivable, but if you swerved and hit another car or person, that reporting duty kicks in.
- A lawyer becomes useful when there are injuries, a motorcyclist was thrown, or another driver hit you while you were avoiding the deer.
The first steps to take immediately after hitting a deer with your car in PA
Pull onto the shoulder if the car still moves, switch on your hazards, and stay buckled until traffic clears. Keep your distance from the animal. A wounded deer can kick or thrash, and approaching it risks a second injury.
Once you’re safe, call 911 for injuries, a blocked lane, or a disabled vehicle. Take photos of the damage, the road, and any deer tracks or debris. Check for fluid leaks, loose parts, and brake trouble before you try to drive away. If something looks off, ask for a tow instead of gambling on the highway.
Drivers along Route 33, Route 22, and I-78 near Easton, Palmer Township, Bethlehem, and Allentown see this often. Wooded stretches and creek corridors between those towns give deer easy access to the road, so a strike can happen even close to town.
Here is a quick reference for the first hours after a crash:
Step | What to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
1. Get safe | Pull over, hazards on, buckle up | Prevents a second crash |
2. Check for injuries | Look at everyone in the car | Injuries may not show right away |
3. Call 911 | Required if injury, death, or undriveable car | Creates an official record |
4. Document | Photos of car, road, and scene | Supports your insurance claim |
5. Keep your distance | Stay away from the animal | A hurt deer can injure you |
6. Notify your insurer | Report promptly, ask about comprehensive | Starts the claim clock |
7. Get medical care | See a doctor within a day or two | Ties injuries to the crash |
If you were hurt, our guide on what to do after a hit and run shows how documentation protects a claim in similar situations.
Contact an Allentown Car Accident Lawyer
Will your car insurance cover the damage from hitting a deer in Pennsylvania?
Usually yes, if you carry comprehensive coverage. The Pennsylvania Insurance Department explains that deer damage falls under that optional coverage, not collision, and that these crashes are treated as not-at-fault, so insurers should not raise your premium over them. You’ll still owe your deductible. If you swerve to avoid the deer and hit a guardrail or another car, insurers typically treat that as a collision claim instead.
Pennsylvania recorded thousands of deer-related crashes in a recent year, with over a thousand injuries, according to the Pennsylvania Insurance Department. Reporting the claim promptly and keeping your photos and repair estimates makes the process smoother.
What Pennsylvania law says about leaving the scene after hitting a deer
Hitting a deer is not a hit and run. Pennsylvania only requires a police report if someone is injured or killed, or if your vehicle can’t be driven from the scene. A minor strike on a drivable car doesn’t trigger a legal duty to report, though calling anyway can help your insurance claim.
The picture changes if the crash involved another person or vehicle. If your swerve clipped another car or struck a pedestrian or cyclist, leaving without stopping can become a serious offense. When in doubt, stay put, call the police, and let them document everything. You can check PennDOT’s rules on crash reporting for more.
How a Pennsylvania car accident lawyer can help after a deer collision
Most deer claims never need a lawyer. Some do. If you or a passenger was injured, a motorcyclist was thrown, or another driver hit you while you were avoiding the deer, the claim gets complicated fast.
An attorney can sort out which coverage applies, such as comprehensive, collision, or uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage, and push back if an adjuster minimizes your injuries or delays payment. We also help families with medical bills, lost wages, and long recoveries. For a sense of how claims are valued, read our breakdown of the average car accident settlement.
Why choose Rose Harper Law for a car accident in Pennsylvania?
Personal injury is our exclusive focus. We offer bilingual representation in English and Spanish, free consultations, and no fee unless we win. Our Allentown office serves Easton, Bethlehem, and every Lehigh Valley community, and our Parsippany office handles cases across New Jersey.
Hurt in a deer crash or any other collision? Call Rose Harper Law at 610-757-1603 for a free consultation. Our office is located in Allentown, and we’re ready to fight for you.
Disclaimer
This article is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this content or contacting our firm does not create an attorney-client relationship. Results vary depending on the specific facts of each case. For guidance about your specific situation, please contact Rose Harper Law directly. Our office is located in Allentown, and we proudly serve clients throughout Easton, the Lehigh Valley, and Pennsylvania.
Attorney Rose Harper has dedicated her career to fighting for personal injury victims, recovering over $1,000,000 in compensation on behalf of her clients. Her practice is built on an unwavering commitment to client advocacy, with a focus on high-stakes cases involving catastrophic motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, and wrongful death actions. Rose is known for her rigorous approach to case development, ensuring that each client pursues the full and fair compensation they are entitled to under applicable law.
